Synthesis and radiation shielding properties of polyimide/Bi(2)O(3) composites

Radiation shielding composites based on polyimide and Bi(2)O(3) were synthesized. Surface and physical-mechanical properties of polyimide/Bi(2)O(3) composites were studied. Bi(2)O(3) particles were modified by polymethylphenylsiloxane for the uniform distribution of filler in composites. This paper presents data on the production of composites in two ways: hot- and cold-pressing. The hot-pressing method for the synthesis of composites is preferable compared to the cold-pressing method (the density increases by 10–12%, and the Vickers microhardness by 10–20%). The results show that the introduction of Bi(2)O(3) significantly increases the thermal stability of the composites. At 680 °C, a polymer composite containing 10 wt% Bi(2)O(3) retains 9.7% of its mass, and at 60 wt% Bi(2)O(3), retains 58.4%. The radiation-protective characteristics of the composites with respect to gamma radiation were evaluated by experimental and theoretical methods. High radiation-protective characteristics of the composites have been established in the gamma-quanta energy range of 0.1–1 MeV.